Funny or Die, the website that brought us the presidential episode of "Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis”, is in the business of comedy and more and more often they seem to be in the business of the White House’s politics.
This week, it’s a “Mary Poppins”-parody video featuring Kristen Bell singing the virtues of raising the minimum wage. “Just a $3 dollar increase, can make a living wage,” sings the “Frozen” actress to the tune of “A Spoonful of Sugar.” It’s a well-timed attention grabber from the unveiling of Budget Chairman Paul Ryan’s (R-Wisc.) - who will be on Meet the Press this weekend - plan to help fight poverty in America.
With the president’s push to get congress to raise the country’s minimum wage to $10.10, it’s hard to believe that 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue isn't directly behind these videos. Representatives for Funny or Die and the White House both readily admit that they are regularly in touch with each other. “We do have a relationship with them now,” said the Funny or Die representative but all parties deny that the White House has “commissioned” such videos.
The relationship stems from a meeting in July 2013 that Funny or Die's president of production, Mike Farrah, had at the White House along with Amy Poehler, Jennifer Hudson, and Kal Penn when the White House was trying to figure out ways to educate young people about the Affordable Care Act.
While the White House isn't ordering these videos up, Funny or Die will be coming out with more politically-related videos in the near future that will continue to have the likes of Valerie Jarrett tweeting them out.